San Diego International Airport posts record passenger totals in 2025 as Terminal 1 rebuild advances
Record-setting traffic at a constrained, single-runway airport
San Diego International Airport closed 2025 with the highest annual passenger volume in its history, extending a period of sustained demand that has pushed the facility beyond pre-pandemic benchmarks. Passenger totals edged above the prior record set in 2024 and also surpassed the airport’s 2019 high-water mark, reinforcing the airport’s status as one of the nation’s busiest single-runway commercial airports.
Publicly posted traffic data indicates the airport handled 25,320,556 passengers in 2025, compared with 25,242,377 passengers in 2024. Aircraft activity was reported at 233,275 operations for 2025, underscoring the operational reality that passenger growth can occur even when runway throughput is tightly limited.
What is driving the increase
The year-over-year gain was modest in percentage terms, but meaningful in context: it was achieved while the airport maintained regular operations during major construction and with no second runway to absorb surges. Growth in passenger totals can result from a combination of factors that do not necessarily require a major increase in flights, including fuller planes, changes in aircraft size, and schedule optimization by airlines.
The airport’s top carriers continued to account for a large share of total travelers, with Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines among the largest operators by passenger volume. The airport’s role as a primary gateway for the San Diego–Tijuana region also positions it to benefit from tourism, business travel, and international connectivity trends.
Terminal 1 redevelopment: capacity, passenger flow, and construction impacts
The record year coincided with the opening of the first major segment of the airport’s new Terminal 1 in September 2025, part of a multi-year replacement of the original 1960s-era terminal complex. The initial opening delivered 19 gates and expanded terminal space intended to improve passenger circulation, security checkpoint capacity, and concessions.
Construction is continuing under a subsequent phase that is planned to add 11 more gates, along with additional passenger amenities and infrastructure upgrades, with completion targeted for 2028. Airport communications have also noted that the original Terminal 1 has been permanently closed and is being demolished, with roadway configuration changes and inter-terminal shuttle operations used to maintain connectivity between terminals while work proceeds.
Key 2025 figures and timeline
- 2025 total passengers: 25,320,556
- 2024 total passengers: 25,242,377
- 2025 aircraft operations: 233,275
- New Terminal 1 initial opening: September 2025 (19 gates)
- Additional Terminal 1 gates planned: 11 more, with phase completion targeted in 2028
With passenger totals at record levels, the airport’s near-term focus is increasingly shaped by how efficiently it can move travelers through terminals and ground access, rather than by expanding runway capacity.
Looking ahead, the central question for San Diego’s air gateway is not simply whether demand will remain high, but how the airport’s terminal buildout, roadway adjustments, and airline scheduling choices will translate record demand into smoother peak-day operations.